The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. revealed that the Philippines is in the process of acquiring more BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles from India as part of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ modernization efforts and its push to strengthen regional defense capabilities.
In a televised interview with India’s Firstpost aired last week, Marcos said the need for additional BrahMos systems came straight from the AFP personnel operating them.
“I’ve spoken to the officers and men who operate the BrahMos system and they say we need more,” the President shared. “Thank God it has never been used, but from the demonstrations they’ve seen, from the training they received both in India and the Philippines, from the practice runs they’ve done, they seem confident with the equipment… We are in the process of actually procuring more.”
The announcement came on the third day of Marcos’ five-day state visit to India, where defense cooperation has been a top agenda alongside economic and strategic partnerships in the Indo-Pacific.
The Philippines received its first batch of BrahMos missiles in April 2024 under a USD375 million agreement signed in 2022. The deal includes three missile batteries, operator and maintainer training, and logistics support.
Marcos clarified that the military upgrade does not signal preparation for war, but is instead a measured response to escalating tensions in the region.
“We are not girding up for war,” he said. “We are simply reacting to the challenges that we are facing… the tensions have increased in the past years and so this is just the reaction to that. We have to do it. This is our duty—to defend the country.”
He also highlighted the importance of equipment like BrahMos in achieving interoperability with defense partners like India, especially as joint military exercises and maritime patrols become more frequent.
“When I left Manila a couple of days ago, four Indian vessels were actually in the South China Sea. One of them was a research vessel docked in the Philippines, and three were conducting exercises with the Philippine Navy,” Marcos noted.
The President also praised India’s rapidly advancing defense industry, saying its technology is “second to none.” He confirmed that the Philippines is now reviewing other potential acquisitions from India beyond BrahMos.
“Everything is on the table right now,” he said, signaling a stronger and more diversified military procurement strategy moving forward.